2014 VW Jetta Gets GAAMA Family-car Award for Value

Refreshed 2015 Model Debuts in Q3

Although sales of the 2014 VW Jetta have been essentially flat so far this year—with volume down .5 percent/271 units through April—the car gained some Southern comfort recently when the 2014 Greater Atlanta Automotive Media Association (GAAMA) named it the "Value Choice" of the group's recent Best New Vehicles for Families showdown.

According to Nick Palermo, GAAMA president: "With so many excellent new vehicles available today, finding a great family car is easy. But finding one that meets a family's needs while remaining affordable can be more challenging. Fortunately, the 2014 Volkswagen Jetta is attractive and capable, with a refreshingly affordable price tag."

He also reported that: "While the Jetta is an economical choice, the compact sedan neither looks nor feels cheap. That helped it earn an average score of 28.0, narrowly edging out the larger but pricier Nissan Altima. A starting price under $20,000 and commendable fuel economy ... make the Volkswagen Jetta a smart choice for budget-minded families."

Getting down to specifics for the 2014 VW Jetta, the starting price for the S model is a very competitive $16,895, and that price of admission includes a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine that delivers 115 hp, 125 lb.-ft. of torque and EPA marks of 24 mpg city/34 mpg highway/28 mpg combined. But shoppers also should keep in mind that the 2014 VW Jetta SE is under $20K as well, with an MSRP of $18,895. And that model serves up Volkswagen's newest 1.8-liter turbocharged engine, which boosts outputs to 170 hp and 184 lb.-ft. of torque, but with higher EPA grades, too.

In fact, by swapping those engines in the 2014 VW Jetta, drivers gain 2-mpg advantages across the board to reach 26 mpg city/36 mpg highway/30 mpg combined. As you might guess, the SE model also brings more standard content and comes straight from the factory with:

Premium seating surfaces made of "V-Tex leatherette," along with eight-way power-adjustable front seats

Upgraded six-speaker audio with AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA playback, a Media Device Interface with iPod connectivity, and a complimentary three-month subscription to SiriusXM Satellite Radio

Heated outside mirrors with integrated turn signals

Just remember, the 2014 VW Jetta will be replaced by a significantly refreshed model for the 2015 selling season, with the updated models expected to arrive in dealerships during the third quarter of 2014.